ALBERTA LOOKOUTS
MOOSE MOUNTAIN
Kananaskis County
1929: The first lookout structure was built. ("Fire lookout hikes in the Canadian Rockies" Mike Potter Published by: Luminous Compositions Ltd. 1998)
July 31, 1929: "The blaze reported yesterday morning in the Big Horn district is practically out, Mr. Hutchinson stated. He explained that Ranger Nash, of the Moose Mountain Lookout, who discovered the fire, hurried to the spot and, calling upon members of an oil crew operating in that section, successfully undertook to check the new blaze." (Winnipeg Free Press)
May 23, 1930: "J.A. Hutchinson, supervisor of the Bow River forest reserve, informs that his men would again commands posts located at Blue Hill, Moose Mountain, Black Rock, Junction Mountain and Cameron Lookout on Mount Burke. The latter station is at an elevation of 8,340 feet above sea level, and is the highest of the five lookouts. The remaining four are all situated at vantage points of sufficient height to ensure a thorough survey of the surrounding territory." (Calgary Herald)
May 22, 1937: "The cabin is of lumber, and is held securely to the mountain peak by cables fastened to iron clasps, which are imbedded in eight cement blocks. Dexter Champion, who spent three and a half seasons on the lookout, said that in dangerously dry weather he had been as long as two months without leaving, and had gone 26 days without seeing a living soul.
A telephone line connecting the forestry stations furnishes means of communicating news immediately of any fire outbreak, and a friendly voice over the wire is eagerly waited in the lonesome, if interesting life of the lookout man.
Supplies are packed in from Canmore once a month. In the spring, when the river is too high for the horses to ford, supplies may be reached by going down the Kananaskis river." (Calgary Herald)
1953: The second lookout on this site was completed. ("Fire lookout hikes in the Canadian Rockies" Mike Potter Published by: Luminous Compositions Ltd. 1998)
1974: The third structure on the site was built. ("Fire lookout hikes in the Canadian Rockies" Mike Potter Published by: Luminous Compositions Ltd. 1998)